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About The nugget. (Sisters, Or.) 1994-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 25, 2017)
10 Wednesday, January 25, 2017 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon Ammon Bundy expected to testify at next Oregon standoff trial AVALANCHES: Thaw and freeze changes make ripe conditions Continued from page 1 backcountry skier, at Crystal Mountain in the Washington Cascades earlier this month. Experience counts for noth- ing if you find yourself in the wrong place at the wrong time. There is no substitute for caution and foresight. As if the huge amount of snow from a steady stream of storms wasn’t enough, last week’s mid-winter thaw exacerbated avalanche con- ditions. Thawing compacted the season’s early snowpack, creating distinct icy layers. When new snow falls on top of that layer, it’s like snow falling on a metal roof; and it is easily shed at the slightest provocation. New snow that falls now instantly poses an avalanche threat to backcountry travel- ers. Potential problems can exist on any snow-covered slope, but some slope and snow conditions present greater potential danger. If different layers from dif- ferent snowstorms are not sufficiently melded, the lay- ers can more easily separate and slide apart, causing an avalanche. Last week, Forest Service Trails Specialist Chris Sabo issued a bulletin for the Deschutes National Forest stating, “Deep snow condi- tions exist at many eleva- tions. Skiing, snowmobiling and snowshoeing can be very difficult on ungroomed or untracked trails. Backcountry avalanche danger is possibly elevated with recent storm activity. Warming tempera- tures, with rain and snow … may also elevate avalanche danger and possibly cause localized water and slush hazards in the snow pack. On- and off-trail caution is advised with changing weather conditions.” Each snowstorm has its own set of conditions; and, accordingly, the resulting snowfall has its own unique properties. These different characteristics result in poor PHOTO BY CRAIG F. EISENBEIS Backcountry travelers should always be aware of conditions that can lead to avalanches, especially on and around steeper slopes. bonding between the layers. As a result, the individual layers that are not bonded shed easily off the underly- ing layer. While an avalanche can occur on any slope, they more frequently occur on slopes between 25 and 65 degrees, with the most com- mon range between 30 and 45 degrees. Less steep slopes can be more stable, and extremely steep slopes may slough snow continually, preventing large build-ups of snow. Generally, it is best to stay away from all slopes in excess of 30 degrees. The avalanche danger is constantly changing day to day, even hour by hour. It is important for backcoun- try users not only to under- stand the underlying fac- tors involved in avalanche danger, but to heed those signs as well. Being prop- erly equipped and trained is also vital. Backcountry users should have a good under- standing of avalanche princi- ples and carry the right tools, which include a beacon, probe, and shovel. Of course, it is also necessary that you know how to use those tools if traveling in avalanche country. It is also important for backcountry travelers to learn to recognize potentially dan- gerous situations. A convex Proud to be 100% locally owned & operated Large organic produce selection Larger & improved natural selection storewide Meat cut & ground fresh daily Huge bulk-foods department Weekly 10 lbs. or more meat & produce sale All your favorite local brands & items Only 20 minutes from Sisters Located in the Cascade Village Shopping Center, Bend Open every day, 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. contour on a slope profile can make the area more ava- lanche-prone, while a con- cave surface may have the opposite effect. In addition to slope, wind and snow conditions can play a big role in setting the stage for avalanche danger. For example, windswept slopes may be less prone to ava- lanche if falling snow is car- ried away. At the same time, when that snow is blown and transported to the lee side of a slope, even more snow may accumulate in those loca- tions, exacerbating already unstable conditions. One sure method of devel- oping avalanche savvy lies in recognizing areas where ava- lanches have occurred before. A steep slope, swept clean of trees, can be a likely sign of past and future avalanche activity. Areas studded with trees or rock outcroppings are indications of areas that may be better equipped to anchor the snow in place. Ultimately, backcountry users must be responsible for their own safety and that of others. Travelers must learn to make their own snowpack evaluations and safe route decisions. Whenever ava- lanche danger is high, it is better to select paths through low-angled terrain that are also away from avalanche runouts. Offices of the Deschutes National Forest Service offer a very useful, free brochure entitled “Basic Principles to Avoid and Survive Snow Avalanches.” At a minimum, winter backcountry users should be familiar with the principles outlined therein. The brochure is usually avail- able locally at the Sisters Ranger District office. Last week, however, local sup- plies of the brochure were exhausted; but more have been ordered and should be available soon. Regardless, the office stands ready to provide safety information and advice. Backcountry enthusiasts should always be aware that strong and fast-moving win- ter storms can change out- door conditions very quickly. Always check weather fore- casts beforehand, always be prepared, and always use sound judgment to make sure that you don’t become a search-and-rescue statistic. PORTLAND (AP) — A judge will let Ammon Bundy testify in the upcoming trial of seven defendants charged in the armed occupation of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge in Oregon. The leader of last year’s takeover sits in a Nevada jail, awaiting trial on charges stemming from a 2014 stand- off with federal agents at his father’s ranch. U.S. District Judge Anna Brown said Friday she will work to ensure that Bundy is transferred to Portland to tes- tify, but not if he argues the brief transfer will hurt his ability to prepare for his trial. The Oregonian/ OregonLive reports that Brown wants Bundy’s time on the witness stand limited to what’s necessary. Bundy testified for three days at his trial in Portland last fall, when he and six co- defendants were acquitted of federal conspiracy and weap- ons charges. The second trial stemming from the 41-day occupation begins February 14. NuggetNews.com is your online source for Breaking News Classifieds Weather Road Reports